16th December, 2007 [The sun of righteousness will rise]- Malachi 4:1-6

1. Words given to the unsettled faith

We continue to lecture from the Old Testament while we are awaiting Christmas. Today’s text is from the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi. Before the time of Malachi, the Israelites had been defeated and exiled into captivity in Babylon as punishment for their disloyalty to God. However, after 50 years of exile, they were freed and went back to their homeland filled with a new hope of rebuilding the country. But, they received a hostile reception from the occupants who were already there. And then, there was a sever famine throughout the land, which impeded the temple’s reconstruction. Their daily life was a struggle with many dificultities. So, God commissioned the prophets, Isaiah and Haggai, to encourage the people: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty” (Haggai 2:9).
They did, however, achieve the rebuilding of the temple in 515 B.C., and fully expected God’s blessings as Ezekiel already predicted: “The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east” (Ezekiel 43:4 ). But, in reality, what came upon them was drought, bad harvests, and famine. So much so they become discontented: ” Where is the God of justice?” (Malachi2:17).
Though the temple was rebuilt, nothing changed. Conditions remained just as hard as before. They at least fulfilled their religious task but their zealous faith disappeared. At that very moment, Malachi was anointed by God as a prophet in about 460 B.C., 70 years after returning back from Babylon. Malachi challenges the people whose belief was turning to doubt:I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have you loved us?” (Malachi 1:2).
And they responded in this way, “Yes Lord, you have loved and rescued our ancestors from Egypt and from Babylon, we know. But our present conditions of living are almost hopeless. If you love us please show us your evidence.” We understand their feelings. Because we too, in pain, might go to church and seek help, listen to God’s words of love, repent, and receive the baptism, but nothing happens in reality. Illness, poverty, and other difficulties might remain. So we ask, where is the salvation, and start looking for substantial evidence.
The Israelites could not experience the blessing, so they began to neglect the quality of objects they offered for sacrifice, an attitude which Malachi addresses here: “When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty” (Malachi 1:8).
Because they did not feel assured of God’s grace, they would not offer the best animals of the flock for sacrifice anymore. If it were to the Governer of Persia they would give the best, for if they did not, they would be punished, or even killed. But God would not take away our life for that, they thought. Malachi compelled these people to repent: “Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, “How are we to return?” (Malachi 3:7).
To Malachi’s appeal they ask how? And he answers: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty (Malachi 3:10-11).

2. The sun of righteousness will rise to those who repent

Despite Malachi’s prophetical teaching, there were those who were disheartened: “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? (Malachi 3:14).And there were those who listened to his words, and repented: “Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name ” (Malachi 3:16).
So the prophet spoke to all the people, predicting: “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them” ( Malachi 4:1).
Therefore, the unfaithful would be destroyed, but the faithful would be rewarded: “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall” (Malachi 4:2). Malachi continues: “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel” (Malachi 4 :4 ). And further: “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes” (Malachi 4:5). The prophet is saying that Elijah’s arrival precedes the day of salvation, so wait, and be prepared for that moment!

3. The departure to the Cross, being encouraged by Moses and Elijah

Now we read today’s verses of invocation from Luke:As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:29-31)
Before setting out for Jerusalem, Jesus went up the mountain and prayed there all night long. His own death was already foretold in Jerusalem, yet He was not really sure that it was God’s will. So, while he was praying the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, there appeared before him an image of Moses and Elijah, who began talking to him about his departure.
Moses was the people’s leader at the event of the Exodus from Egypt, and Elijah, was the prophet sent by God to struggle against the people’s worship of Baal. Formerly Israelites were punished because they would not listen to these prophets. Luke’s verses describe the scene. The word used for fulfillment is “Exodus” in the original text, with which Moses and Elijah explain that the Cross which lies before Jesus, is not the end, but a new departure. Being exhorted and encouraged, Jesus started out along the road to Jerusalem.
Too often we, humans, expect material rewards from religious belief. Some choose a certain religion in order to obtain in exchange of believing, earthy profits, recovery from illness, or superficial happiness, for example. But religious faith should not necessarily accord such benefits, a fact which the book of Malachi reveals. Others look for religious faith to escape from the harsh reality of life by concealing oneself in a surreal universe, an attitude, indicated in apocalyptic literature, which tell us to abandon hope in this real world, and to do nothing but aspire to the last judgement, and Jesus’ return.
However the Bible does not say that faith cures illness nor teaches us to run away from real life. Instead it tells us about the hope of salvation through the Cross of Jesus. Faith, as a means to take profits, or to evade responsibility, are both based on deception. The act of sacrificing, or construction of temples, or baptism, cannot make the rescuer come soon. The Bible teaches us to forget such illusions, and to face the world, rather than trying to escape from the realities of life.
Of course nobody wants to bear burdens as our cross. But the weight of the cross makes us recognize the notion of blessings, and abundance of life. As an example, I would like to cite some verses from a pastor who dedicated his life to people who suffer from leprosy. He said, “there are sincere prayers, consolations of the Bible, tangible hands of love, deep humbleness, beauty of pure mountains and brilliant landscapes, and gratefulness to others, which we can have and feel only through illness.”
Our pains make our life rich and plentiful. Those who come to church merely to find a sense of consolation or purification will not meet God. We can only meet God when we change these consolations and purifications into altruistic acting in our daily life, which God wants from us as we practice our faith.
The bible teaches that our lives will change when we meet God. That is what God expects from us. Giving tithes or constructing temples will not change our way of life. But when we meet God we will be changed people. Once changed, our religious tasks and charitable acts will be carried out with joy, not as painful obligations. Every Sunday we come to church to be recharged with a spiritual power. We continue to share our spirit filled life throughout the week by listening to God’s voice. Now our Savior has come, and the waiting period has passed. So let’s commence to spread the happy news of Christmas.

—–